Structural unit and structure incorporating same



March l2, 1968 E, G, RENSCH l 3,272,518

STRUCTURAL UNIT AND STRUCTURE INCO-RPORATING SAME Filed Sept. 18, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet l 2//5 Fig: B. f'

INVENTOR- EBERHARD G. RENscH March l2, 1968 E. G. RENSCH I 3,372,513

STRUCTURAL UNIT AND STRUCTURE INCORPORATING SAME Filed sept. 1s, 196s e sheets-sheet 121g: 11. f/ i! INVENTOR; EBERHARD G. RENSCH March l2, 1968 E. G. RENscH 3,372,518

STRUCTURAL UNIT AND STRUCTURE INCORPORATING SAME Filed sept. 1a, 196s EBERHARD G. RENSCH BY ./uesem, man 6" jedem 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 12, 196s E. G'. RENSCH 3,372,518

STRUCTURAL UNIT AD STRUCTURE INCORPORATING SAME Filed Sept. 18, 1965I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 b .925% 907 F 1g: Z7- INVENTOR:

EBERHARD G. RENSCH BY ./uasem, 7205s 8 ./ubm

March l2, 1968` E.. G. RENscH 3,372,518

' STRUCTURAL UNIT AND STRUCTURE INCORPORATING SAME Filed Sept. 18, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EBERHARD G. RENSCH BY jedem, To 6' .Meriem March 12,"1968 E. G. RENscH 3,372,518

` STRUCTURAL UNIT AND' STRUCTURE INCORPOHATING SAME Filed sept. 18, 1963- e sheets-sheet e 3,372,518 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 hee 7 claims. (el. 152-227) My present invention relates to building and other structures incorporating prefabricated units.

The erection of buildings and other structures from prefabricated units has hitherto been restricted in practice to a relatively small number of models, owing to the need for concentrating on only a few basic types of construction elements susceptible to mass production and standardization. Thus, little variation in style and only limited adaptability to unusual requirements (e.g. sloping ground or irregular boundaries of property) could be expected with the available techniques and materials.

The general object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a novel prefabricated structural unit composed of simple basic elements of such shape as to enable convenient diversification of buildings and other structures assembled from such units.

Another object of my invention is to provide an assembly of Prefabricated structural elements which is inexpensive to produce, readily adaptable to various environmental conditions (including dierent types of terrain) and generally as durable as similar structures lbuilt on site in the conventional manner.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide Prefabricated structural units adapted to be assembled at will into single-story or multistory buildings.

I have found, in accordance with the present invention, that these objects can be realized With the aid of prefabn'cated units incorporating substantially horizontal slabs composed of polygonal, more specifically triangular, plates bearing edgewise upon one another so as to'define a floor, roadway, platform or the like of polygonal outline, in combination with means rigid with certain of these plates for supporting the slab and/ or holding the plates together.

As is well known, polygons capable of being assembled into continuous geometrical figures of indefinite width and length include triangles, quadrangles and regular hexagons. It is advantageous, in a structure embodying the invention, to utilize triangular plates since they represent the smallest building blocks usable in this way and can, in turn, be grouped into square, rectangular or hexagonal subunits. For this purpose it will 'be convenient to employ triangles whose vertex angles are aliquot parts of 180, such as isosceles right triangles or equilateral triangles.

Slabs of this description can be rigidly joined to associated upright members, such as Walls, columns and other supports, with the aid of frames or brackets matin gly engaging suitably profiled peripheral portions of the polygonal plates. In a like manner it is possible to secure special connectors to the slabs for holding their plates together, e.g. in the form of a polygonal insert matingly engaging complementary recesses in these plates, preferably at the junctions of the vertices of several triangular plates together constituting a rectangular or hexagonal subgroup. It will also be possible to use structural elements, such as columns with radially extending ribs, combining the functions of connector and support.

The columns joined to the slab may be tubular or substantially solid and, in either case, may serve as casings for a variety of utility ducts such as gas, water and drain pipes or electric cables. I prefer to form the plates on one side with a bowl-shaped concavity framed by relatively thin Walls which can be readily perforated, thus making it possible for extensions of these utility ducts to pass horizontally from the columns into the interior of the plates and from one plate into an adjoining one. The concave sides, which according to requirements may face upwardly or downwardly, can be closed up by suitable covering layers such as tioor boards or ceiling plaster; similar coatingsrnay, of course, also be provided on the opposite, solid plate surfaces.

in general, the plates (as also the associated wall or supporting members) may be made of a variety of materials including metals (eg. steel or aluminum), ceramics (eg. asbestos cement) or combinations thereof. The-y may also contain llers of thermally insulating substances such as rock wool, glass fibers and the like.

The necessary cohesion between the plates of one structural unit, as also between adjoining units themselves, may be insured in a variety of ways. Adhesive bonding will sutiice in some instances, advantageously in combination with interplate reinforcements such as stiffening bars lodged in horizontal channels that are defined by the suitably recessed edges of adjoining plates. Some of these bars, if hollow, may be traversed by cables or similar flexible tie elements looped under tension around a group of plates to hold them firmly in contact with one another; particularly in the case of larger units I prefer to use a plurality of overlapping loops extending around complementary portions of the unit perimeter. In some instances, however, a single peripheral loop will suflice, e.g. in the case of a regular polygon (hexagon or square) composed of six equilateral or four orthogonally isosceles triangular plates whose vertices adjoin one another at a common center.

To the extent that the tension cables or equivalent tie means are not conducted through tubular reinforcing bars, they may be directly accommodated in peripheral grooves of the several plates embraced thereby. These grooves, as also those constituting the aforementioned channels, may be provided in the body of the plate itself or in a surrounding frame, the latter advantageously also serving as a coupling means for joining the plate to an associated column, wall or other building part. Frames of this description may also be provided with flanges capable of being joined to one another with the aid of rivets, screws, bolts etc. to supplement or replace the various modes of connection referred to above. The bearing edges of the plates are thus in shear-resisting load-'bearing relationship.

The herein described combinations of prefabricated polygonal building blocks can be used in a variety of structures ranging from small pavilions to multistoried buildings. They can also be employed in the laying of roadways for overland routes, overpasses and bridges.

The invention will be described in greater detail hereafter, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a triangular plate adapted to be used as a building block in a structural unit according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same plate seen from the opposite side;

FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view, partly in section, taken on the line IIL- III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view (parts Ibroken away) of a hexag- 3 onal structural unit incorporating six plates of the type vshown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on the line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI- VI of FIG. 5, showing one of the supporting columns for the unit of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating a modilled column;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of still another type of column;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrating a support formed from two columns of the type shown in FIG. `8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top View of a modied hexagonal unit similar to that seen in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line XI XI of FIG. 10; m

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of yet a further column adapted to be used as an interplate connector;

FIG. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a unit similar to that shown in FIG. 4 but incorporating ten triangular plates;

FIG. 14 is a detail view of a modified form of plate particularly adapted to be used with the unit of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, illustrating another modification;

FIG. 16 is a perspective View of a bungalow-type building constructed from units of the kind illustrated in the preceding figures;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the building with its roof removed, taken substantially on the line XVII-XVII of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a subunit composed of two triangular plates of orthogonal isosceles configuration;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another pair of plates having the general coniiguration shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line XX--XX 0f FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of still another plate having the outline of half an equilateral triangle;

FIG. 22 is a top view of a slab composed of triangular plates as shown in FIGS. '1, 2 and 2l, forming part of a roadway;

FIG. 23 is a side-elevational view of the slab shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 2.4 is a view similar to FIG. 22, showing part of a roadway for `a bridge structure;

FIG. 25 is a side-elevational View of a suspension bridge with a span formed by the roadway of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a modified roadway incorporating a network of reinforcing bars;

FIG. 27 is a detail view taken on the line XXVII- XXVII of FIG. 26; and

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of that part of the structure of FIG. 26 which is visible in FIG. 27.

In FIGS. 1-3 I have shown a plate 100 of structural material in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The side of the plate 100 visible in FIG. l is concave to form a generally triangular bowl 101 framed by relatively thin walls 102, the latter being widened at two corners to form deltoidal enlargements 103. The corner pieces 103, as seen in FIG. 2, .are provided at their opposite sides with bores 104; at that side the plate 100 carries a solid layer 105 ush with the corner pieces 103.

As seen in FIG. 3 and on a larger scale in FIG. 5, plate 100 has a profiled periphery which forms a set of vertically superposed grooves 106 for positive engagement with one or more peripheral tie wires or cables 107 (FIGS. 4 and 5). At each corner of the triangle the plate has a peripheral recess defined by upper and lower ilanges 103', `103" or 108', 10S". The facing layer 10S conceals a layer 109 of thermally insulating material.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 5, a hexagonal unit 110 designed to constitute part of a slab is formed from six juxtaposed plates with upwardly facing bowls 101. The 4corner pieces 103 of these units adjoin each other in pairs at respective corners of the hexagon to define a series of pentagonal bearing surfaces resting on respective columns 111 of similar cross-section (FIG. 6). As shown in `FIG. 6, column 111 may actually be subdivided into two adjoining parts 111', 111" that may or may not be bonded to each other; alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a tubular column 111:1 of similar polygonal profile may be used. In each case it is possible to `accommodate one or more utility ducts, here shown as a pair of power conduits 112', 112", within the column; these conduits, as best seen in FIG. 5, enter the bores 104 of the associated corner pieces 103 and have extensions 112x (eg. electrical cables) passing through apertures 113 in the plate wall 100 into the bowl 101 of an adjoining plate and, if necessary, through other wall apertures (not shown) into other plates of the system. A facing layer 114 has been shown in FIG. 5 as overlying the structure to conceal the concavities 101; this layer may, of course, also extend over adjoining portions of a larger slab of which the unit 110 forms a part.

The cable or cables 107 lodged in one or more of the grooves 106 embrace the entire unit 110 and are held under tension with the aid of suitable means such as a turnbuckle 115 (FIG. 4) engaging a pair of inversely threaded cable terminals 107', 107". In the region of the corner pieces 103, as best seen in FIG. 5, the recess defined by the anges 103', 103" matingly receives a marginal bracket 116. The body of bracket 116 is bent on an angle of corresponding to the peripheral angle of hexagonal unit 110, so as to hug the adjoining plate edges to which it may be secured by cementing or in any other conventional manner. A pair of vertically spaced lugs 116', 116", respectively contacting the anges 103' and 103", afford suthcient clearance for the insertion or removal of cables 107. Screws 17 or equivalent fastening means connect the bracket 116 with the column 111, or with each post 111', 111" thereof, to hold it iirmly lagainst the slab unit 10. The column may, of course, be additionally attached to the slab by cementing.

A special interplate connector 118 is disposed at the center of the hexagon and is constituted by a pair of hexagonal disks 118', 118'l interconnected by a reduced stem 118'". The disks 118', 1-18" are received in Va recess deiined by flanges 108', 108" and afford suicient clearance for the insertion of tension cables into the grooves 106 at the plate vertex if this should be desired, eJg. for the purpose of forming overlapping wire loops as described here inafter with reference to FIG. 13. The connector 1'1'8 may engage the plate vertices with or Without bond.

In FIG. 8 I have :shown a modified column 211 whose polygonal profile forms a vertical groove 211 designed to accommodate a wall member as more clearly illustrated in FIG. 9. The latter figure shows a pair of such columns 211e, 21111 juxtaposed at an angle of 120, at one of the corners of a hexagonal unit 110 as previously described. The two columns are supplemented by a triangular strut 119, riveted or otherwise secured thereto, dening with them a polygonal pillar of the same general cross-section as the columns 111 and 111a of FIGS. 6 and 7. The supporting member 119, 211g, 211b is again shown traversed by utility ducts 212', 212", here illustrated as water pipes. The c-oupling means joining the unit 110 to the structure 119, 211a, 211b may again be in the form of a bracket such as the one designa-ted 116 in FIGS. 4 and 5; member 119 can be omitted in some cases.

The vertical grooves 211e', 211b' of the two columns 211a, 211b respectively receive a wall panel 120 and a laminated glass pane 121 with frame 122, groove 211b' being also partly occupied by a spacer bar 123. Panel 120 and glass pane 121 are, of course, representative of various types of wall members including hinged or sliding windows or doors, some of which have been illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 discussed hereinafter.

In FIGS. and 11 I have shown part of an incomplete hexagonal unit 210 containing four triangular plates 200 which are centrally interconnected by a six-armed spider member 224; this spider may be regarded as a slice of a splined column 124, FIG. 12, having six radially extending arms 124. Each plate 200 has a body 209 (which, though shown as homogeneous, can be a composite as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5) and a metallic frame 202, the latter having marginal flanges 202 to support the body 209. Frame 202 is also provided with a horizontal web 202 having an upstanding rib 202'". Web 202" spacedly overlies a portion of body 209, in the region of the vertex of plate 200, in such manner as to give access to a set of bolts and nuts 138 serving to interconnect the frames 202 of adjoining plates together with the spider ribs 224 sandwiched therebetween. Two outer wall members 220:1, 220b extend along spider arms 224:1, 224b; member 220:1 is' a solid wall panel whereas member 220b is shown as composed of a pair of window panes 221 mounted in a frame 222. In addition, auxiliary wall members 220C, 220:1 bridge the spaces between spider arm 224C and wall members 220:1 and 22017, respectively.

As indicated by the hatching, the layers 109, 209 may consist of ceramic material such as the asbestos cement mentioned above.

The voids present between the ribs 202' and other upstanding frame portions may be occupied by suitable fillers as indicated at 126, 126', 126 in FIG. ll; the oor so formed may be covered by a facing layer 205. This oor is conned to the interior of the building, i.e. to the area defined by the elements 200, the angle of 240 included between spider arms 224:1, 224b representing an internal corner of a room. Insulating layers 126:1, 12612 may also be deposited in the spaces bounded by wall members 220:1-220d and spider arms 224:1-2246. The wall members 220:1, 220b could, of course, also be extended into mutual contact, in which event the members 220C, 220:1 could be omitted.

-It will be apparent that the arrangement of FIGS. l0 and 11 constitutes a rigid structure securely interconnecting its several components-This structure could readily be extended downwardly and/or upwardly through the replacement of spiderv 224 by the column 124 of FIG. 12, with partial omission of the flanges 202 or the offset 'upper edges 202iv of the frames 202 to provide clearances for the ribs 124. Thus, several units 210 may be attached to a single column 124 at vertically spaced locations to define the floors and ceilings of successive stories.

FIG. 13 illustrates diagrammatically the formation of slab structures larger than the hexagonal units heretofore described. The assembly 310 of FIG. 13 consists fundamentally of ten triangular plates 300, each of which may be specifically` constructed in the manner described with reference to plates 100 and 200, together with reinforcing bars 125 intersecting at the centers of each of two overlapping hexagons defined by these plates. Two ten-sion cables 307:1 and 307b extend in separate, overlapping loops around complementary portions of the outline of unit 310, the ends of each cable being twisted together at 315:1, 31511 to place the respective loop under tension. Cable 307:1 diametrically traverses one of the component hexagons, by way of a tubular reinforcing bar 125:1, the other cable 307b traversing the second component hexagon in similar manner by way of a tubular bar 125b. The intersectingbars 125 are disposed at different levels within the slab 310, these bars extending along aligned edges of pairs of diametrically opposi-te plates 300 within channels formed by the peripheral grooves of adjoining plate edges. To facilitate the showing of the bars 12S, the plates 300 are seen spaced apart in FIG. 13 with their tension cables in a -slack state.

In FIG. 14 I have shown part of a plate 400 which may Aalso be used as a basic constituent of the unit 310 in FIG.

13 and which comprises an insulating layer 409, outer cementitious layers 409', 409" `and a marginal metal frame 416 matingly engaging its profiled periphery. Frame 416 forms three superposed horizontal grooves 406 of which one has been shown as occupied by a bar 125 of hollow rectangular cross-section. The upper and lower grooves 406 are also shown formed with recesses 406 in which tension cables can slide without the intermediary of a bar 125, as when the plate 400 visible in FIG. 14 lies on the outer periphery of a composite unit. Frame 416 further forms an upper and a lower trough 416', 416" to accommodate upper and/or lower wall members. FIG. 14 shows an upper wall panel 420 in trough 416 as well as a solid bar 426 serving as a stilfener and packing for the trough 416, the latter is underlain by a covering layer 405'.

FIG. l5 shows a part of plate 400 of FIG. 14 with its frame 416 whose trough 416 is occupied by a pane 422 of laminated glass alongside a sealing strip 423. The latter is provided with a sloping ledge 423' projecting outwardly beyond the frame 416 so as to form a sill carrying off rain water and other precipitation.

In FIGS. 16 and 17 I have illustrated a honeycomb-like bungalow structure 127 composed of several six-plate uni-ts 100 of regular hexagonal configuration, a larger fourteen-plate unit 100:1 which may be constituted by three overlapping hexagons in the general manner discussed with reference to FIG. 13, and a rhombic unit 100]; constituted by two additional triangular plates; all the plates have the same equilateral configuration and size. Wall panels 120, windows 122 and doors 128 define the peripheral boundary of the structure which is internally divided by partitions 129 into a number of rooms. It will be understood that these partitions may be formed in'pait by solid walls and in part by connecting doors. Some of the inner and outer wall panels may be replaced yby wall closets as indicated at 130, 131. One partition 132 also extends diagonally across a hexagonal compartment. The utility of each room will be readily apparent from the pictorial representations of different pieces of furniture seen in FIG. 17. In multistory buildings, the hexagonal cell Structures may also accommodate staircases and elevator shafts.

The `glass panes and doors may be disposed at will, e.g. with reference to prevailing lighting conditions or in a -manner positioning the windows of adjacent rooms at nonconfronting locations. It may be mentioned, by Way of example, that a length of about 230 cm. has been found convenient for each side of the fifty-eight triangular plates constituting the oor and ceiling slabs of the structure 127.

The one-story building 127, being a stable self-contained unit, may be placed on any level foundation or terrain. Its component elements may be suitably surfaced at the factory to obviate the need for subsequent finishmg.

FIG. 18 illustrates a pair of plates 500 which are generally similar to the plates 100 of' FIGS. 1-3 but have the form of right-angled isosceles triangles, corresponding to half a square. The two plates 500 visible in FIG. 18 are part of a four-plate unit of square outline, the plates being held together at their vertices by a connector 518 which is similar to connector 118 of FIGS. 4 and 5 apart from the square shape of its disk or disks. A bracket 516, resembling the bracket 116 of FIGS. 4 and 5 but defining an angle of rather than of 120", is positioned for engagement with the deltoidal corner formations S04 of the two plates at their junction to help holding the unit together, the formations 504 being again designed to constitute a bearing surface for a corner support. It will be apparent that, in this instance, the cross-section of the supporting column will have to be slightly modied, with reference to that illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, to take account of the 90 angle of the polygon.

FIG. 19 represents an assembly `610 composed of a 'pair of plates 600 each having the same configuration as the plates 500 of FIG. 18. In this instance, however, the two component plates face each other along the hypotenuse of the triangle. Furthermore, as more clearly seen in FIG. 20, each plate 600 a composite body of the general type previously described, i.e. with an insulating layer 609 and a facing layer 605, encased in a profiled metal frame 602 defining a bowl 601. The interior of the bowl is lined by a further me-tal layer 601 which may be soldered, welded or otherwise secured to the adjoining frame 602. The two adjoining frames 602 with their reinforcing sheets 601' are firmly held together by an overlying metal strip 602', of T-shaped profile, also connected therewith by welding, soldering, riveting or the like. The frames 602 are recessed along their confronting edges and provided with preferably integral webs so as to form larger and smaller grooves 606 and 606". The horizontal channels defined by the paired grooves 606 accommodate reinforcing bars 625 of rectangular cross-section whereas the channels constituted by the grooves 606" may be traversed by cables 607 adapted to tie the two plates 600 into a larger structure by means of overlapping loops as noted above. The two-plate unit 610 itself can be further consolidated with the aid of surrounding cables, not shown, lodged in peripheral grooves 606 (FIG. 19). Naturally, the frames 602 can also be interconnected (mechanically and/or by fusion) at other locations, e.g. along their lower edge portions 602" which are in engagement with the respective bottom layers 605.

When plates of the configuration shown in FIGS. 18- 20 are used in the construction of dwellings, e.g. as illus-trated in FIGS. 16 and 17, they may be dimensioned to have a length of approximately` 250 to 270 cm. along their hypotenuse.

FIG. 21 shows a plate 700 in the form of an orthogonal triangle representing one half of the area of the triangular plate 100 of FIGS. 1-3. Such a plate can be used to finish the edges of square or rectangular slabs composed in the main of the equilateral or isosceles plates heretofore discussed.

Reference will now -be made to FIGS. 22 and 23 for the showing of a rectangular sla-b 810 composed of plates 800 and 800 respectively having the conguration of the plates 100 and 700 of FIGS. l and 2l. The slab 810, which of course may be extended at will, constitutes part of a vehicular roadway and is provided along its longitudinal edges with blocks 816 engaging the corners of adoining plates in the general manner set forth hereinabove. The blocks 816 are integral with struts 811 which are sunk in the ground to anchor the roadway -to the soil. Some of these struts may also serve as pillars for supporting the slab above ground at locations where the roadway passes across gulches or streams, e.g. as indicated at 811.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show the same kind of slab structure 81011 utilized as the roadway of a suspension bridge 133 This bridge comprises two pairs of piers 134 interconnected by suspension cables 135 from which supporting cables 136 extend to the blocks 816a spacedly disposed along the slab edges.

A modified slab structure 910 is shown in FIG. 26; the component triangular plates 900, shown separated (as in FIG. 13) for clarity of presentation, extend in four parallel rows and have their aligned diagonal edges profiled (c g. as described with reference to FIG. 14 or 20) to form intersecting channels accommodating reinforcing bars 925:1, 925b. These bars extend completely across the slab 910 and are anchored at their ends to blocks 916 that are relatively offset in longitudinal direction of the roadway. Other, shorter bars 925C extend in the direction of traffic between the similarly grooved longitudinal plate edges.

The anchoring of the bars 925a, 925b to the blocks 916 is best illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28.. Each block is provided wiih a pair of recesses 916a, 916b receiving an extremity of a respective bar, the latter being securely fastened to the block by a spike 137a, 137b. The supporting cables pass through bores 916 in the blocks 916.

FIG. 27 also illustrates the manner in which a pair of angularly intersecting long bars 925a, 9251: and a short bar 925C are held at different levels in superposed grooves 906a, 906b,*906c of the plates 900. The central groove 906e additionally accommodates tie wires 907, advantageously in longitudinal recesses as shown at 406 in FIG. 14, so that groups of plates 900 may be overlappingly looped together as indicated at 907a, 907b, 907C, 907d in FIG. 26; it will be seen that each loop encompasses up to six plates (fewer at the edges) and that each pair of overlapping loops has two plates in common, no single plate edge being engaged by the strands of more than two wire loops.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific structures described and illustrated and that, in particular, features disclosed in connection with different embodiments may be combined with or substituted for one another within the limits of compatibility. Such modifications, combinations and substitutions as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art are, therefore, intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A structural unit comprising a substantially horizontal slab of polygonal outline composed of a plurality of coplanar polygonal plates bearing edgewise upon one another; tie means securing said plates with adjoining edges in shear-resisting'load-bearing relationship, at least some of said plates constituting a coherent major portion of the slab and being in the shape of isosceles triangles with vertices pointing toward and lying adjacent a common center; a column supporting said slab at said center; and coupling means joining said column to said slab, said coupling means including a spider member with radially extending ribs secured to said plates and receiving said vertices between them.

2. A structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said triangles are equilateral.

3. A structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said column is a ribbed structure having the profile of said spider and forming an integral downward extension thereof.

4. A structural unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said plates each comprise a triangular metal frame, rigidly connected with two of said ribs, and a ceramic layer spanning said frame.

5. A structural unit comprising a substantially horizontal slab with a coherent major portion of polygonal outline composed of a plurality of edgewise adjoining coplanar plates in the shape of isosceles triangles, a multiplicity of said coplanar plates having corners at a common connection point, said plates constituting a coherent major portion of theslab and being provided with peripheral recesses forming channels within the slab at their junctions; fiexible tie means securing said plates with adjoining edges in shear-resisting load-bearing relationship, said tie means peripherally surrounding said plates for holding them in contact with one another, said tie means including a plurality of loops overlappingly extending through different ones of said channels and along complementary portions of said outline; a column supporting said slab at said common connection point; and coupling means'securing said column to each offsaid corners of said plates at said common connection point, thereby fastening said column to said slab.

6. A structural unit as defined in claim 5, further comprising reinforcing bars lodged in said channels alongside said tie means.

7. A structural unit las defined in claim 6 wherein said bars intersectingly extend beyond corners of said plates, said channels being vertically subdivided by ribs in said 9 10 recesses for accommodating intersecting bars and said tie FOREIGN PATENTS means at dierent levels.

642,128 6/1962 Canada. References Cited 1,075,072 4/1954 FIaICe.

,3 648,629 1/1951 Great Britain. UNITED STATES PATLNTS 5 743,159 1/1956 Great Britain. 1,474,148 11/1923 Hopkins 52-236 X 6,950 5/1922 Netherlands. 1,571,484 2/1926 Knight 52-586 X 1,858,701 5/ 1932 Boettcher 52-584 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 3,058,550 10/1962 Richter 52-8() X 3,152,366 10/1964 Mccrory et a1 52-237 X l0 ALFRED C. PERHAM,Examiner. 

5. A STRUCTURAL UNIT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SLAB WITH A COHERENT MAJOR PORTION OF POLYGONAL OUTLINE COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OF EDGEWISE ADJOINING COPLANAR PLATES IN THE SHAPE OF ISOSCELES TRIANGLES, A MULTIPLICITY OF SAID COPLANAR PLATES HAVING CORNERS AT A COMMON CONNECTION POINT, SAID PLATES CONSTITUTING A COHERENT MAJOR PORTION OF THE SLAB AND BEING PROVIDED WITH PERIPHERAL RECESSES FORMING CHANNELS WITHIN THE SLAB AT THEIR JUNCTIONS; FLEXIBLE TIE MEANS SECURING SAID PLATES WITH ADJOINING EDGES IN SHEAR-RESISTING LOAD-BEARING RELATIONSHIP, SAID TIE MEANS PERIPHERALLY SURROUNDING SAID PLATES FOR HOLDING THEM IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER, SAID TIE MEANS INCLUDINGG A PLURALITY OF LOOPS OVERLAPPINGLY EXTENDING THROUGH DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID CHANNELS AND ALONG COMPLEMENTARY PORTIONS OF SAID OUTLINE; A COLUMN SUPPORTING SAID SLAB AT SAID COMMON CONNECTION POINT; AND COUPLING MEANS SECURING SAID COLUMN TO EACH OF SAID CORNERS TO SAID PLATES AT SAID COMMON CONNECTION POINT, THEREBY FASTENING SAID COLUMN TO SAID SLAB. 